Purpose: To explicitly document the public health consequences of war, to describe the roles that public health professionals can play in preventing war and alleviating its impact, and to make the prevention of war an integral part of the global public health agenda.

Content: This text is divided into seven sections. The first describes why war is part of the public health agenda. Parts two through five describe the impact of war on public health, examining specific weapons systems, special populations, and particular military conflicts. Part six focuses on the roles of public health professionals and nongovernmental and humanitarian aid organizations in the prevention and alleviation of the consequences of war. The last section discusses the strategies and tools that the public health community can use to prevent war and its consequences.